Grass catcher for lawn mowers



Febfs, 1954 J, Q K|RHER- JR 2,668,411

GRASS CATCHER FOR LAWN MOWERS Filed May 3, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

Patented Feb. 9, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GRASS CATCHER FOR LAWN MOWERS John C. Kircher, Jr., Mountain View, Calif. Application May 3, 1952, Serial No. 285,923

4 Claims. (Cl. 56-199) 'Ihis invention relates to grass catchers and more particularly to a grass catcher of the type having a throw plate for moving grass clippings into the rear portion of the catcher.

The present invention is related more specically to certain novel improvements in the grass catcher structure described and claimed in my United States Letters Patent No. 2,300,934 which issued on November 3, 1942. As stated in the foregoing patent, the broad object is to provide means whereby the operator of a lawn mower can quickly and easily transfer grass clippings from the forward portion of the catcher to the rear thereofk without having to apply his hands to that work In the present application, the same broad principle is employed but is refined to the extent that a more eiiicient operation and effective result is obtained in a novel manner. In other words, a similar throw plate is provided on the fore portion of the catcher for foot operation by the tap of ones foot upon a fulcrumed bar connected with an arm carried by the throw plate. However, in the present application a flexible or floating connection between the fulcrum bar and arm on the throw plate affords an overthrow of the throw plate without full stroke of the fulcrum bar.

It is accordingly one object of the present invention to provide a floating connection between a foot operated fulcrum bar and the throw plate of a grass catcher.

VAnother object is to provide a flexible linkage between the throw plate and fulcrum bar which will enable tap operation of the fulcrum bar with a resultant overthrow of the throw plate.

Another object is to provide for an offset relationship between the lawn mower and the throw plate type grass catcher to facilitate uniform gathering of grass clippings which is conducive to better operation of the throw back feature of this invention. Incidental to the foregoing object, this invention further contemplates means for conditioning the grass catcher for either right or left hand oifsetting relative to the mower.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a reading of the following description in the light of the drawings in which:

' Fig. 1 is a fragmentary plan view of a conventional lawn mower having attached thereto a grass catcher embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevational view of the grass catcher as seen from the left in Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view looking into thev 2 portion of Fig. 3 from the same angle but from below.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the grass catcher of Figs. 1 to 4 from a rearward side angle and with the throw plate down.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of one corner of the catcher illustrating the mode of offsetting the catcher body relative to the point of connection thereof with a lawn mower.

'I'he grass catcher embodying the novel improvements constituting the present invention, as shown in the drawings, follows the broad principle described and claimed in the aforementioned U. S. Patent No. 2,300,934. In general, the conventional grass catcher I0 has a flat sheet metal bottom I joined to an upper bowed frame 23 by a heavy duck canvas Skirting 2. In accordance with the broad concept of my aforesaid patent the conventional grass catcher is provided with a throw plate 5 having its fore lip I6 adapted to be disposed immediately behind the lawn mower M and its rearward edge formed to provide spaced hinge bosses 'I associated with likeV hinge bosses 8 formed on the sheet metal bottom I of the grass catcher. The patented concept further provides a bar I I which is bowed around the rear skirting of the catcher which bar is fulcrumed at the two sides thereof on a canvas sling suspended from the bowed frame 23. Each of the free forward ends of the flucrum bar II is connected by a. linkage in turn connected to the throw plate 5.

v The transverse bar I9 of the instant case is slightly longer than the width of the sheet metal bottom member I, preferably by about two inches. This bar I9 is bent upwardly to provide vertical struts 2li-2U' for supporting the forward free ends 22-22 on parallel arms 23-23 of the bowed frame member 23. In this connection, the struts 2li- 20' are bent laterally outwardly as at 2I--2l to receive the looped free ends 22-22 of the frame arms. Moreover, the lateral free ends 2 I-2 I' of the struts are bent rearwardly backward and under the respective arm 23'-23" of the bowed frame 23 to aid in supporting them at a substantially obtuse angle relative to the vertical struts 2Il--2II'.

Ao n the bottom member'I are formed by cutout portions therein in the portion thereof below the throw plate.

The side and rear edges of the sheet metal bottom I are each curled over a heavy wire bow member 26 as Well as the lower extremity of the canvas skirting 2 for securing the latter to the metal bottom The parallel fomandlyxextendingr arms 2'I;2I.1fof the lower bow-member zhave'i their ends looped as at 28-28' around the transverse bar I9 for sliding movement therealong inzio? addition to supporting the forel ends- .of..the, catcher bottom at the desired el'evationabove'tlle lawn turf when the transverse banitisssupportedr.; by the rearwardly extending A hooked brackets B-B on the lawn mower The rearward "I5 part of the catcher is suspended from thm pushbar P of the mower M by a strap S having its lower end looped, as. atllaround.theibightzof.. the bowed frame member' 23. The upper endlofa strap S is loopedasatllby. alslidegbucklefSI for 20 adjustment relative. to. a hooKHLadapted to. hangover the push bar or througlilan' eye Eprovid'ell.A thereon. see Fig..2)...

In. connection with; the freg'oing',-.itl ,Willlbe notedfthat at botltsideslof'tlieleatclientheore 25 end of the catcherbottomll `is.c,iit oi1t.a's at.CHL-i2?. preferably about. 2. inches. from, trie. extreme. side edgethereofl. The fore lij;'i, TA oft'h'ethrow .plate` 5' is .similarly cutout as.at`.3'3`..3`3l' .to registerwith, the cutouts 3'2`.-322 inf..tlie..bottoni..rnerriberf.Il tcr 30 receive. one or the..etherf-olfthehookedbrackets. Bor B'Icarriedlby.thermowerM.

Asis well known, mowers.,arefconstrnctcdtol throw clippings tothe. .right orllt'o. thelleft. Con@ sequently, when .the .catclieixis indirect-.alignment with -themower-.the clippings are.l concentratedto. oneforv the otherside;in,the..catcherf. is not; conducive to.V the. best'.V operation of... the. throw plate and .often.requirestreniovahof .the clippings. from theV catcher .before itis.- completely., full...40 However, the.. clippings.l are, more evenly dis-j tributed within. thecatcher. it: need .b'e emptied5 less frequently. f Moreover, .by` concentratingther clippings more toward center. or` .tI-ie:- catcher', even v distribution of, clippings ,witliin .the f catcher. v 5 will result when thezclippingssintheoreportiom are thrown lback` intofthe `catcher: by,- operation Lof i the .fthrow plate..V

The present invention contemplates .more everyY distribution of.4 the clippings .upon operation of 50 thefthrow plate-.- AsilluStrated-.in Eigq; Onaor., the vother of. the. loopedY endss28 Moit-:.201,oftthef lower wire: member.- 2 .6`iis `Asecured-in fproximityft the upright strut Zuton 20.5, ,as the casernayi` bet, dependent upon theslde to which the spiral sickle... blades of.theslawnfmowerewill .th-rowE the lawn:

clippings.4

The means-,forcsecuring' either-'.-loopedf end@ 28e or 28 to -therespective strut-20mi' 20% adiacenti it comprises a-atfpiece of..metal-35.in1thefiorm:no of a clipbentbaekgupon-itselff-as atf36ttoitf aroundone or; the other of the-:vertical-strutsr (20' or 20.).- The :bend:36.:is.--preferably .such as:- to almost circumscribecthefstmitso.thatfthe@wel wings 3l- 37j ofthe-.metal piece..35..will.lie ilush against eachother. .Each .wingfv ll.3.I '.is-pro.f vided` with .a rhole 38 which .register with' onef. anothertomeceive the. free ends`3f9l30. ci 'a wire'V IIIlL'L This' wirej40`is' adapted "to"haveitsflc'lopedl endd I strung 'through .the lop 28"or20"' "'of "tli'eL lower wire frame mem-ber26t'oftliehatchery4 .dependent=r autres anathema-ambten 4nredarwin@m 4 clippings are cast from the spiral sickle blades of the particular mower and into the catcher. This placement of the clip 35 is easily accomplished by spreading the wing portions 31-31 thereof suciently to slip the clip onto the particular strut to which it is to be connected. For exampleias shown in 136th@ sickleA blades of mow-erillu/strated cast grass. clippingstoward the right. Therefore, the metal bottom I of the :catcher I0 is shifted to the right along the transversebar. I9. The. clip 35 is placed on the strut lVan'd" wire' K0 strung through the loop 28 on theflelthandarma of the lower wire frame member 26. As indicated by the directional *arrowsA* in Figi l, the clippings will fall more ornless'uniformly into the catcher rather than all to one side thereof. Consequently, when the throw plate. ,is` kicked; upwardly,. the clippings thereon are tossed directly. bacl..in to...the rear.. portion v of thev catcher. for more orY less uniformldi'stribtion therein.V

The foregoing uniformdistribution ofi clippings" onthetlrow plate 5.b'yreason of offset@ relation off the .catcher relative to thev mower, .offersLadx'led effectiveness: to the. improved construction-.off the`-v throwv plate, its fulcrum bar- I Il andthe novell] noatingconnection 45 therebetweenandnowA tolie explained.

Asillustrated in- Figaf' to- 5l inclusive,` thei fulcrum... bar I I- pivoter-l` asati- 4'6- by agrive't^ extended through the. canvas .sling 41.. which isf suspended from the upper,bowedframernernbers 23 -infaccordance-withthe teachings oflmyV aforesaid-Ui Spatent..n However, in-thestructure--oithis ucv/application the free forwardsends 48-4& E of; the fulcrum.` bar extend considerably beyqnd the point ofpivotal fconnectionof the .throw plate.- E-withzthe metallbottom I'of.4 the catcher;Y More-- overt I.these vforward i ends 13S-484 of` thezulcrurm` bard I-are kbent back upon themselves butA spaced from 2 the main .body f ofthe fulcrurn1` bar to :proffM vide-Jan velongated .slot All-lili respectively; Thea rearwardifendsfof *these slotsfllS-fS-i are closedby crimping: the extreme ends' ofthe-bentback@ portions of the fulcrum bar towardrthe-mains portion ofthe latter.

Al link member 50--50- 4 at earch.Y side gy of- .thea catcher-A has rhone end secnred'tothe throw plate well in advance of the point of-pivotal mounting? thereof.Y Thefopposite end5I -5;If of this-link mem-berk.50e-till" extends upthroug'h the*y respecwy tive`Ar elongated f slott 39;494 provided' A'at I the: exe-fl treme fore-endet the -fulcrumban I l. 'heupperV or'fsaidf opposite-end 5 I-5 I f of the Flink-receives atwasherZQ-land lis--thenpeened` orfotherwi'se rna-lformecl.4 to; secure:- thewwasherzthereon .ad-T". jaceritthe` upper; surface yof-'thefforeendofflthe fuicrurn bar: In-ffthisma'nner, thetfulcrum-Abarf-I I r isoperatively.- connected totlre throwf plate with a# resulting.. floating;- :connection nbyf reason offy therfreedorniof movement; of the link' member' [Ir-'50 Y" igzithin*.-the:felongatedslotAlli-453? on theffulcrum.;

Whenfthethrowfplate `."r-is'in its norinal position therextended'fend z5 I :or 5 I of Ithe'link -as-lwell' asf' the r;washer:52+525 'thereon is-disposed in -thefex-f treme forward zone'of theJ elongated slot-'49or4'9-'F1 (Figs: 21and1f5); This Amakes "for TaL maximumiof leverage"y andlquicker reaction Aofvthe throw plate-".1 5 to ithe :downward -thr-ustlfof .the fbight .portion-offi the fulcru'nibarat'thetapof'fthei operator-s foot. Moreover; asimomentumf of r thefth'rowi plate' asf well asiits i'loadf'of clippingsifisfgainedathe `fore lever portionidll offthe fulcrum ba'rgrad'if ualllyV`I` slicrtenedas;illustratedinmgss 'and 443; l"or if the operator has hit the fulcrum bar with a quick but positive tap of his foot, the floating connection between the linkage 50-50 and the fulcrum bar is such as to allow the throw plate to continue toward full stroke position irrespective of whether the fulcrum bar has been carried through to full stroke position.

This latter feature is important because a quick tap of the foot on the fulcrum bar does not require the operator to stop in order to work the throw plate. Thus the operator can develop a technique of operating the fulcrum bar while in his stride whether he does it by foot, by hand or in any other manner with a quick tap.

It should here be noted that the link 50-50 need not be a rigid, i. e., solid wire element but can be a flexible cable which will yield to the twist or torque to which the linkage may be subjected by frequent use. In this manner, the anchorage of the lower end of the link 50-50 to the lower face or side edge of the throw plate will not be broken and continued use of the throw plate thereby is afforded.

Since the oisetting of the catcher I relative to the mower M spreads the grass clippings more uniformly over the throw plate, there is a more equalization of the burden on both link members 50 and 50 rather than on one or the other alone. It will therefore be seen that a greater advantage is attained with the improved fioating connection in combination with the offsetting of the catcher body relative to the mower; a quicker and more instant operation is afforded by reason of the iioating connection between the linkage 50-50' and the fore end 48-48 of the fulcrum bar; and the clippings thereby are tossed back into the catcher with greater ease and less effort on the part of the operator.

While I have described the improved construction for throw plate type grass catchers in specific detail, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that structurally it may be varied, altered or modified without departing from the spirit of this invention. I, therefore, desire to avail myself of all variations, alterations and/or modifications as fairly come within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a lawn mower grass catcher of the type having a throw plate extending across the fore end of its bottom and hingedly connected to said bottom at the rearward edge of said throw plate; means for offsetting said catcher to one or the other side of the mower to which it is attached dependent upon the direction of throw of the clippings from said mower into said catcher for effecting uniform distribution of said clippings on said throw plate comprising a forward transverse bar on said catcher for supporting the fore edge of the bottom thereof, said transverse bar being of a length slightly greater than the width of the bottom of said catcher to afford sliding movement thereof to one or the other extreme end of said transverse bar, and means for securing said bottom of said catcher to that end of said transverse bar to which it is moved.

2. In a grass catcher adapted to be coupled to a pair of connecting hooks extending rearwardly from a lawn mower, said grass catcher being of the type having a throw plate extending across the fore end of its bottom and hingedly connected to said bottom at its rearward edge; the combination therewith of a transverse bar for supporting the fore edge of the bottom of said catcher for sliding movement to one or the other side oir center relative to said lawn mower, the bottom of said catcher having a cut-out portion spaced inwardly of and adjacent each of its extreme side edges for receiving one only of said rearwardly extending connecting hooks on said mower while the other one of said hooks will receive said transverse bar outside the opposite side edge of said bottom dependent upon the direction in which grass clippings are cast from said mower into said catcher for attaining substantially uniform distribution of said clippings on said bottom and said throw plate.

3. In a throw plate type grass catcher adapted for coupling to a pair of rearwardly extending hooks on a lawn mower which grass catcher has an upper bow member joined to a lower bow member and the bottom of said catcher by a canvas skirting or the like; the combination therewith of a transverse bar for slidably supporting the fore edge of the bottom of said catcher, said transverse bar being of a length slightly greater than the width of said bottom and bent upwardly to provide upstanding struts for supporting the forward extremities of the upper bow member of said catcher, the forward extremities of said lower bow member of said catcher being looped around said transverse bar for sliding movement therealong, said bottom of said catcher having cut-out portions adjacent each of its side edges in the region of support on said transverse bar for receiving one only of said connecting hooks while the other of said connecting hooks engages said transverse bar outside the opposite side wall of said catcher, a clip surrounding said strut, and a wire element strung through the looped end of said lower bow member and attached to said clip for maintaining the bottom of said catcher in offset relation relative to said lawn mower.

4. In a grass catcher adapted for coupling to a pair of hooks on the rear of a lawn mower and including an upper bow member joined to a lower bow member and the bottom wall of said catcher by a skirting; the combination therewith of a transverse bar for slidably supporting the fore edge of the bottom wall of said catcher, said transverse bar being slightly longer than the overall width of said bottom and bent upwardly to provide upstanding struts for supporting the forward extremities of the upper bow member of said catcher, the forward extremities of said lower bow member of said catcher being looped around said transverse bar for sliding movement therealong, said bottom of said catcher having cutout portions slightly inwardly of each of its side edges adjacent said transverse bar for receiving one only of said connecting hooks while the other of said connecting hooks receives said transverse bar outside the opposite side wall of said catcher, a clip having its mid portion bent to substantially circumscribe one of said struts and having a pair of wings each provided with an aperture, a wire element strung through the looped end of said lower bow member and the apertures in the wings of said clip for securing said lower bow member against the strut on which said clip is mounted to maintain the bottom of said catcher in offset relation relative to said lawn mower.

Y JOHN C. KIRCHER, JR.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,067,916 Haffner et al Jan. 19, 1937 2,300,934 Kircher Nov. 3, 1942 

